title: Magnetic resonance venography and liver transplant complications.
abstract: Hepatic vein stenosis is a rare but serious complication following liver transplantation. Multiple modalities can be utilized to image the hepatic vasculature. Magnetic resonance venography (MRV) provides certain advantages over ultrasound, computed tomography angiography and digital subtraction venography. MRV utilizes the same imaging principles of magnetic resonance angiography in order to image the venous system. Blood pool contrast agents, specifically gadofosveset trisodium, allow for steady state imaging up to 1 h following injection, with improved visualisation of vital venous structures by utilising delayed steady state imaging. Additionally, the inherent physics properties of magnetic resonance imaging also provide excellent soft tissue detail and thus help define the extent of complications that often plague the post-liver transplant patient. This case report describes the use of gadofosveset trisodium in a patient with hepatic venous stenosis following liver transplantation. Initial venography failed to outline the stenoses and thus MRV using a blood pool contrast agent was utilised in order to delineate the anatomy and plan a therapeutic endovascular procedure.
authors.affiliation: Evgeny Strovski, Dave Liu, Stephen Ho, Darren Klass, Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada.
authors.forename: Evgeny
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Strovski
authors.forename: Dave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scudamore
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Darren
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Klass
mesh_terms: D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010690:Phlebography / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D005682:Gadolinium; C109932:gadofosveset trisodium
keywords: Blood pool; Gadofosveset trisodium; Liver transplant; Magnetic resonance angiography; Magnetic resonance venography; Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis